Representation of women in Westminster and the Scottish
Parliament
Research Question: How is representation of women affected by institutional
processes and spaces?
Aims
Examining the impact of 1) ceremonial and ritualised processes and 2)
parliamentary spaces on substantive
and symbolic representation of
women. In particular:


Examining the integration and belonging of representatives in relation to
their sex, and its intersection with
party, class, race, region.
Examining the perceptions of external
groups and women in society
Objectives


To investigate the implications
of ceremonial and ritualised
processes on the experiences
and perceptions of representatives and the represented.
To examine the importance of
parliamentary buildings and political symbols for inclusion and
exclusion.
Methodology
Three methods in both sites:
1. Participant observation through ‘shadowing
placements’ with MPs and MSPs;
2. Elite interviews with MPs/MSPs (both those
who claim to ‘act for’ women and random sample) and women’s groups (random sample);
3 . Focus groups – discussion between women
constituents on perceptions of parliament and
accompanying all women tour groups around
parliament.
Fieldwork
Working Assumptions
Institutional processes and spaces differentially affect the practice of representation and privilege some groups above others.
More specifically:

First, formal procedures affect interaction
between representatives and the represented. Hierarchical structures are likely to
privilege historically dominant groups.

Second, institutional processes contain
gender norms. Gendered practices
(including rules, norms, rituals and ceremonies) affect representatives’ feelings of belonging and the mode of representation.

Third, the physical space in which representation occurs affects behaviour and perceptions. Political buildings contain cultural
assumptions that speak to some groups
more than others. This may impact on feelings of inclusion and marginalisation
among representatives and the represented
Internship with Lib Dem MP, parliamentary researcher:
“Such an old-fashioned building, pictures of
Prime Ministers, give you a sense something happened here. There’s something about this place…
it feels special. Things
like signs giving signs
giving precedence to
MPs reinforce the
sense of hierarchy.”
Rosa Malley, Univeristy of Bristol
Internship with Lib Dem MP: “Westminster was designed to be intimidating, but so was Portcullis
… look at the high ceiling”.